Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

I think I've managed to spring the blade on every bypass shear I've ever had.

I use a Silky folding saw now. I have the same luck with springing bypass shears too.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Anyone have the HF vertical / horizontal bandsaw?

Metal Band Saw - Horizontal/Vertical Metal Band Saw

 

[California]

I use a Silky folding saw now. I have the same luck with springing bypass shears too.

I just bought a Silky saw after snapping a favorite Fiskars. (original version from Scandinavia, not Asia). It's going to take some getting used to if the Silky only cuts on the pull stroke.

I need to carry lightweight shears plus use a saw for pruning anything thick/stiff enough that it wont jump around while sawing.

A while back I discovered another use for the shears: picking wild blackberries. Leather glove on my left hand to pull thorny canes out of the way then pick berries with right hand or cut canes with shears in right hand to get access into the jumble. And an open bucket tied to my waist to toss berries into without looking. These gimmicks made a big increase in production compared to working barehanded without the shears - and far fewer thorn tips to dig out of my hands later.

 

[MossRoad]

Anyone have the HF vertical / horizontal bandsaw?

Metal Band Saw - Horizontal/Vertical Metal Band Saw

Why yes, yes I do. I have a 15+ year old version of the same thing. The motor melted and burst into flames. The blade fell off constantly. There was grit in the gearbox, etc.... There is a large following of that saw on the interweb. Google it up and you'll find several groups with all kinds of tips and tricks to get it working very well. I was lucky in that I found a decent motor at work that came off the exact same saw! It was 30 years old. The gearbox had seized up on that one and they were going to trash it, so they gave me the motor when I asked. Its worked great every since. There are some adjustments to make on the wheels that drive the blade and the guides that make it track straight and true. Find some bi-metal blades for it too. Then it will cut very well.

 

[5030]

Anyone have the HF vertical / horizontal bandsaw?

Metal Band Saw - Horizontal/Vertical Metal Band Saw

I have one (I forgot where I bought it, been so long ago). I paid 150 bucks for mine. It's a good saw, I've cut hundreds of feet of structural shapes, bar stock in stainless and carbon steel with mine over the years.

Couple issues...

One, the motor is typical Chinese junk and sooner or later (probably sooner), you'll find the 'smoke' from the motor. I replaced mine with a Marathon years ago. Second, the bandwheels run on plain bushings with no way to add grease. I drilled and tapped my idler bandwheel for a grease fitring and it lasted a good while. Last year I bored the hub and installed a real double row ball bearing. That should outlast me. Third, the on-off switch is junk, I replaced that years ago with a good one from the hardware store and finally, the gearbox comes with fish oil in it. Drained that and added some real 90 weight.

Overall it's a good saw for 150 bucks. Not sure about 250 bucks. The new one looks exactly like my old one.

 

[5030]

I get my bi-metal bladees from Moss' neighbor, MSC in Elkhart, Indiana. Morse or Starrett pre-welded loops.

 

[flyerdan]

Anyone have the HF vertical / horizontal bandsaw?

Yes, I have an early version of that model that was my dad's. They are a good saw for non-production home use. Mine has a plate, about 8x8 that you can put on the bottom blade guide for vertical use, makes cutting smaller parts a lot easier, or giving something to fixture to for ripping. You'll probably want to opt for a better quality blade once you get it dialed in.
I like it for cutting thick stuff, you can set it and go do something else while it does its thing.
They show up on craigslist fairly often, might snag a good one for a lot less.

 

[MossRoad]

I get my bi-metal bladees from Moss' neighbor, MSC in Elkhart, Indiana. Morse or Starrett pre-welded loops.

I think that's where I got mine, too! :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a fun resource for that saw....

4x6 Bandsaw Mods

 

[MossRoad]

And if you scroll down on that site, you'll see the famous melted plastic motor cooling fan that so many people have discovered.